2012 -- S 3073

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LC02822

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PRODUCER

RESPONSIBILITY MODELS FOR PAPER AND PACKAGING

     Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed, Ruggerio, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: June 12, 2012

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

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consisting of nine (9) members: four (4) of whom shall be representatives from the Senate, not

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more than three (3) of whom shall be from the same political party, to be appointed by the Senate

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President; one of whom shall be the Director of the recycling program from the Rhode Island

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Resource Recovery Corporation, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be representatives of

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environmental interests to be appointed by the Senate President; and two (2) of whom shall be

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representatives of businesses, including an expert on producer responsibility programs for paper

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and packaging, to be appointed by the Senate President.

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     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

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commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

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resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

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of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

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is entitled to the appointment consents to the member of the general public.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the

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opportunity to preserve long-term landfill capacity for Rhode Island municipalities by continuing

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to expand the diversion of paper and packaging through a producer responsibility program.

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     The commission’s recommendations shall include, at a minimum: a set of criteria to be

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used to evaluate paper and packaging materials proposed for product stewardship solutions;

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methods to identify and monitor progress toward stewardship performance goals for collection

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and recycling of materials; options to facilitate the creation of industry-managed stewardship

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management organizations; methods to fund increased diversion of paper and packaging; and

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structures for agency oversight of a collection and recycling program.

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     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

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the call of Senate President who shall select a chairperson from among the Senators.

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     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

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     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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Senate President no later than March 5, 2013, and said commission shall expire on June 4, 2013.

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LC02822

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PRODUCER

RESPONSIBILITY MODELS FOR PAPER AND PACKAGING

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      This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative commission whose

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purpose shall be to make a comprehensive study of the opportunity to preserve long-term landfill

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capacity for Rhode Island municipalities by continuing to expand the diversion of paper and

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packaging through a producer responsibility program, and who would report back to the General

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Assembly no later than March 5, 2013, and whose life would expire June 4, 2013.

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LC02822

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